How can I output an A-Z list?

[ivytony]

I'd like to make an A-Z list as this one: http://www.dealdigs.com/coupons.php

 

I am wondering how to order the merchant names stored in mysql for output?

 

 

[fenway]

With an ORDER BY clause... how do you mean?

[ivytony]

I mean to group the output by the first letter in each merchant name, like this:

 

A:

 

B:

 

C:

 

I am wondering if I need to make the 'ORDER BY clause' run 26 times for the 26 letters (A-Z). thanks

[Barand]

<?php
mysql_connect('localhost');
mysql_select_db('test');

$sql = "SELECT name FROM merchants
        ORDER BY name";
$res = mysql_query($sql);

$prevLetter = '';
while ($row = mysql_fetch_row($res)){
    $name = $row[0];
    $letter = $name[0];                    // get first letter
    if ($letter != $prevLetter) {          // is it different from previous one?
        echo "<h4>$letter</h4>";           // if yes, output new letter
        $prevLetter = $letter;             // reset previous one
    }
    echo $name, '<br/>';                   // output the name
}

?>